ECU hosts Florida Atlantic Thursday night

East Carolina wide receiver Justin Hardy makes a move on an Old Dominion defensive back during last week's game. Hardy, who has 191 receiving yards, leads the Pirates into Thursday's game at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium against Florida Atlantic.

GREENVILLE – Justin Hardy may have made an early case for Conference USA Player of the Year. The junior had a career day in the Pirates' 52-28 win over Old Dominion last week – a career-high 16 receptions for 191 yards.

GREENVILLE – Justin Hardy may have made an early case for Conference USA Player of the Year. The junior had a career day in the Pirates' 52-28 win over Old Dominion last week – a career-high 16 receptions for 191 yards.

But Hardy's not the only legitimate offensive threat for the East Carolina Pirates.

Ten of the wideouts caught a pass in ECU’s 447 passing yards in the home-opener.

Danny Webster had eight receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown, Reese Wiggins pulled in seven catches for 48 yards and freshman Davon Grayson had three scoring grabs in his Pirates' debut.

“We are a very talented, very deep, very confident bunch,” said Wiggins. “Everybody can make plays all around the field. If someone tries to take one option away, you have another option who is just as good.”

The Pirates will attempt to continue their offensive barrage against new Conference USA member Florida Atlantic on Thursday. Kickoff from Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium is slated for 7:30 p.m. and will be televised nationally on Fox Sports 1.

“Anybody can have their day in any game,” said Hardy. “Nobody can get double-teamed, so (defenses) have to pick their poison.

“Who you going to take away? If you take away the wrong person, someone else can have a great night.”

The Pirates' offense had their way with Old Dominion last week, and it started from the get-go when Craven County natives Hardy and Webster accounted for all eight of the receptions on ECU's opening drive of the season, which was capped off with a four-yard touchdown catch by Webster.

“I've tried to tell everyone before the year started that the receivers on this team are for real,” Webster said. “It proves we have playmakers all over the field.

“You have to respect every one of our receivers. We have guys who can fly right by you and take right off. We have guys who can make you miss and catch it in traffic.”

Stopping ECU's passing game is going to be a difficult task for Florida Atlantic's defense which yielded 503 yards of offense in its 34-6 loss to the University of Miami last Friday.

Junior linebacker Andrae Kirk is one of the leaders on the Owls' defense. He tallied six tackles and had his first career interception in his season debut.

“We have to match up (ECU) with our personnel,” Kirk said. “We are going to compete. We are going to be physical and that's the mindset we are going into this game with.”

Florida Atlantic's defense, typical of most Florida-based football teams, has speed. The Owls' attack with defensive backs Keith Reaser and Damian Parms, as well as linebackers Adarius Glanton and Randell Johnson.

“Our offenise is hard to prepare for,” Wiggins said. “You have people on the outside who can go deep and you have inside guys who can go underneath and make people miss.

“It's very tough to stop. We just have to keep executing and keep playing our game.”

The Owls were 3-9 last season in their final season in the Sun Belt Conference.

After the departure of last season's starting quarterback, the Owls have a pair of young quarterbacks orchestrating the spread offense.

Jacquez Johnson, a sophomore, passed for 83 yards against Miami, while Greg Hankerson, a freshman, tossed for 34.

“I have a good connection with both of them,” said Florida Atlantic's 6-foot-4 wide receiver William Dukes, who led the Owls with 979 receiving yards. “I've been working with (Jaquez) since last spring and I've been working with Greg since the summer.

“They have the feel of the game and they know how fast the game is going to be played.”

Dukes, tight end Nexon Dorvilus and running back Jonathan Wallace are the focal point of Florida Atlantic's offense.

“FAU is a great team,” Wiggins said. “They have great skill players and good speed.

“We have to stay focused and not get caught up in any of the hype. It's just one game. It's a long season, and we know we can play better.”

Notes: Florida Atlantic is playing its first season in Conference USA, while East Carolina is in its final season in the league... Thursday's game is ECU's second of three home games to start the season...it hosts Virginia Tech on Sept. 14...the Pirates have won 10 of their last 11 games when scoring more than 30 points...ECU has lost 24 of 35 games against FBS teams from Florida...this is ECU's first meeting with Florida Atlantic.